A Child With an Unusually High-Level Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emission

Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions, threshold microstructure, and psychophysical tuning over a wide frequency range in humans

“…In contrast, some high-frequency SOAEs have been associated with hearing loss and cochlear pathology in the literature (Ruggero et al, 1983;Yamamoto et al, 1987;Mathis et al, 1991). Hence, an apparent dichotomy between lowand high-frequency SOAEs has emerged.…”

“…Given the reports linking high-frequency (and high level) SOAEs to hearing loss in humans (Huizing and Spoor, 1973;Ruggero et al, 1983;Yamamoto et al, 1987;Mathis et al, 1991) and animals (Clark et al, 1984;Ruggero et al, 1984;Nuttall et al, 2004), we expected threshold microstructure to be either absent or altered near SOAEs at high frequencies. Contrary to this expectation, SOAEþ ears produced normal-like threshold microstructures across the wide frequency range examined.…”

“…Comparable case reports in humans are also available. Mathis et al (1991) described a child with a 55 dB SPL SOAE at 5.6 kHz with a hearing loss between 4 and 8 kHz.…”

“…SOAEs linkable to cochlear pathology or hearing loss have almost exclusively been observed at high frequencies in both humans (Ruggero et al, 1983;Yamamoto et al, 1987;Mathis et al, 1991) and other species such as chinchilla (Clark et al, 1984) and dog (Ruggero et al, 1984). Furthermore, damage-related SOAEs are often, but not exclusively, observed in cases of notched or abruptly sloping hearing losses (e.g., Ruggero et al, 1983;Mathis et al, 1991), although there have been reports in ears with losses of flat configuration (Yamamoto et al, 1987) as well.…”

Tinnitus: Characteristics, Causes, Mechanisms, and Treatments

“… 35 These atypical SOAEs are much more prevalent in the higher frequency range and can appear at sound pressure levels up to 55 dB SPL in the ear canal. 36 Tinnitus due to SOAEs is mild and is more common in subjects with normal hearing and in those with only middle ear disorders. 37 SOAEs decrease as hearing loss progresses, and hence these otoacoustic emissions are not likely to cause tinnitus when a hearing loss of 35 dB or more is present.…”